The Sprout
The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Issue 180 September 2023
The Sprout
The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Directo rs: Jan et Bartlam, Judi Bo lder, John Clement s,
Michae l Cockman, Ag MacK eith
Editor
Ag MacKeith
South View House, Old Botley, OX2 0JR Tel: 724452 Editor@TheSprout.org.uk
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The Sprout
Issue 180, September 2023
Contents
3 Medical Practice - Latest
5 Meet…. Ali Hogg
9 Visit Energy Saving Homes
11 North Hinksey School
15 Flood Scheme Update
19 Brownies Forge Ahead
21 Peggy May Bates
23 Botley Arts – Kyle Hill
25 Summer Fun with the 4th
27 Planning Applications
29 Kennington Memory Club
31 Randoms
35 General Organisations
From the Editor
As usual, the Sprout this month is looking backwards and looking
forwards. Coming up: Botley Bowl Skatepark, which has got planning
permission at last, HOORAY!, and now has a chance to be built in time for
next year’s summer holidays (cover shows local kids having fun at
Eynsham Skatepark). There are new arrangements at Botley Medical
Centre, which are looking hopeful (p3); then there’s Oxford Preservation
Trust’s Open Doors event (9th and 10th September) during which you can
get inside all sorts of places all over the city which you wouldn’t see
otherwise, and threaded through that, a chance to see how our neighbours
have managed to retrofit their homes for the changed conditions of the
21st century (p9). November will see the public enquiry into the
compulsory purchase orders required by the Flood Alleviation Scheme,
but resisted by the local people – Riki Therivel details some of the snags
(p15). Kyle Hill’s lively paintings are the subject of a new Botley Arts
exhibition starting on 4th September (p23), and there is an interview with
another artist on page 5 – Ali Hogg. Looking back over the summer, we get
a taste of the action-packed adventures of the 4th Oxford Scouts (p25), and
on page 21 we say Goodbye to Peggy Bates a lively local presence
throughout a life that lasted more than a century.
Ag MacKeith
Update From Botley Medical Centre
The Patients’ Participation Group are pleased to inform patients that two
Oxford-based practices will be taking over GP services at Botley Medical
Centre and Kennington Health Centre from 1 October 2023.
The practice team at the Manor Surgery in Headington will provide
services to patients from the Kennington Health Centre site, while the
team at 19 Beaumont Street, Oxford, will provide services to patients
from the Botley Medical Centre site.
A small number of registered patients living outside the catchment areas
of the new providers will be registered with other GP practices, most likely
closer to home.
Patients do not need to take any action to register with the new surgery
and patient care will not be interrupted. NHS will send a formal letter to
everyone affected ahead of the changes from 1 October advising them of
details of their new practice. There will be an opportunity for people to
register with other surgeries at this stage, depending on practice
boundaries.
The PPG are confident these new arrangements will be welcomed by
patients, especially as the new providers are well-established, successful
practices, committed to providing the best possible care for the people
they serve.
All staff now working at Botley and Kennington sites will be offered the
opportunity to join the new practices if they wish to do so, in line with the
TUPE process.
It is understood that each new practice will hold an open meeting in their
new area in September – date and place yet to be determined.
Chris Sugden, PPG Secretary
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOTLEY APPLE DAY
looks like being on
8th October this year.
More next month.
Meet…. Ali Hogg, Artist
Ali Hogg is the local artist who set up the
Botley Drawing Group that exhibited life
drawings at the Louie Memorial Pavilion
during this year’s Art Weeks. I’m sure most
of you are aware that life drawing entails
using live, typically nude, models. A couple
of us from The Sprout visited the exhibition
and thought we’d like to know more about
Ali and his work. I arranged a meeting.
This very likeable Scotsman bounded
through my front doorway exuding positivity
and energy. He’d just come from his day job
as a picture framer at Isis Creative Framing,
off the Abingdon Road, his enthusiasm undimmed by a busy day and
tiring cycle ride home.
Ali explained a little of his background – he grew up in Edinburgh and
obtained a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts at Edinburgh College of Art. He
met his wife Jane when living in Oxford and they eventually moved to
Botley with their daughter in 2007 where they have been based ever
since. He’s worked as a picture framer for 28 years, with a 3-year break
when he was a projectionist at the Phoenix Cinema in Walton Street.
Whether painting, drawing, or making collages, creativity is in Ali’s nature
and creating art remains his lifelong passion. He is currently working on
a set of mixed media head sculptures exploring the mechanics of the
brain, relationships and communication. A planned retrospective is in the
pipeline for 2026, when he turns 60, at The North Wall Arts Centre in
Summertown.
When Ali was a student at Edinburgh College of Art, life drawing was an
important aspect of his discipline. Really looking, observing, and
translating that to mark-making on paper is a fundamental tool in artist’s
practice. Although there used to be a life drawing class in Dean Court it
folded a few years ago and was much missed. For many years Ali has
been a lead worker at Botley Youth Club, and he is currently chair of the
Pavilion Trust. His creativity was much in evidence at the late Queen’s
Platinum Jubilee celebrations last year, when he organized the miles of
bunting illustrated by Botley’s three schools. His own lack of enthusiasm
for the monarchy did not stop him from being a willing helper, but he
attended the party in Punk mode, with his hair in a green Mohican and
God Save the ueen emblazoned on his T-shirt – a reference to the song
by the Sex Pistols. The picture above shows him posing for a profile
picture at the Jubilee event in the Seacourt Hall, which he also organized.
The Botley Drawing Group meets each Monday evening during term time
and is very popular. Ali does not
tutor the group in any way but
books models and prepares the
space each week, and he
participates in the drawing himself.
How on earth do you ensure a
naked model is warm and
comfortable in the middle of winter,
I asked? Ali assured me that the
first thing he did was buy a couple
of heaters! He is always careful to
check that the model has had
sufficient to eat or drink, asks if they
feel tired or energetic and
organises poses accordingly.
Drapes, props, and spotlights are also on hand to create a studio
environment. Tea and biscuits are provided at half-time.
What do the artists get out of it? Not only the end product and drawing
practice but the chance to have a couple of hours of being totally
focussed, when all the worries of daily life fade away. In fact, models
often remark how quiet the artists are. Although Ali himself has exhibited
work during Art Weeks for the past seven years, many of the artists had
never participated before and have a new-found confidence in their ability
to continue with their art. In future the venture may involve expanding the
group’s activities to include creative aspects other than just drawing.
During the summer the Botley Drawing Group met on Monday evenings
at the Hinksey Heights Nature Trail, observing and drawing from nature.
In sum? Ali Hogg is successfully doing a great job in providing a creative
and diverse community activity, although he says he won’t be giving up
the day job yet! Life drawing is very on trend at the moment, with several
classes in and around Oxford. We are very lucky to benefit from Ali’s
enthusiasm and energy here in Botley and North Hinksey.
Viv Smith
Visit Energy Saving Homes
during Oxford Open Doors 9/10 September 2023
This year’s Open Doors event on 9/10 September includes “Energy
Saving Homes” around Oxford, which demonstrate various kinds of eco-
renovation work. Do take a look at www.oxfordpreservation.org.uk, or
for more detail go to oxford.greenopenhomes.net, and plan your visits!
If you’re wondering about making improvements to your home, it can be
really helpful to see energy-saving measures in different kinds of houses
and to ask homeowners and occupants about their experience of having
the work done, and of living in their renovated home. This year’s event
includes two houses in Botley and one in Osney – ranging from Victorian
to very recent builds, all of which have been retrofitted to make them fit
for the future with extra insulation, solar panels and heat pumps. Their
addresses are 14 South Street, Osney, 25 Murdoch Place, Botley and 5
Hutchcomb Road, Botley. The website will tell you when they are open.
Energy Saving Homes is organised by Communities for Zero Carbon
Oxford, a collective of community groups in Oxford including our own
Sustainable Botley. This year’s events are funded by the Low Carbon
Hub. Laurie Michaelis
North Hinksey School – Governors needed!
Want to use your skills and knowledge to make a difference to your local
community? Want to support local children? North Hinksey C of E
Primary School is looking for a new Chair of Governors, community
governors and foundation governors.
Governors set the school’s strategic direction and support its delivery,
working closely with our exceptional staff, managing our resources
effectively and challenging for excellence in all aspects of school life.
Governors use their substantial expertise from their personal and
professional backgrounds to help manage and lead the school effectively
in delivering its aims and objectives. We want a diversity of skills,
experience, views, cultural and religious backgrounds so that our
Governing Body is reflective of our community.
A Community Governor is someone with personal and professional
skills, in particular relating to financial management, risk management, IT
or operations management. Community Governors do not need to have
a direct connection with the school – if you share our belief that all
children, staff and community members should be enabled to “flourish
and achieve”, to be the best they can be, and you can relate to our core
values of “Faith, “Love” and “Hope” then you could be a great fit!
A Foundation Governor is someone who can ensure that the school
upholds and develops its character as a Church of England school,
referring directly to the school’s connection to the local church, its trust
deed and vision and values. Many Foundation Governors are drawn from
local Anglican churches but some may be from other denominations,
demonstrating positive collaboration with other local church groups, and
from the parents’ community.
The Chair of Governors should also bring an appreciation of
education/public sector context and related governance, experience of
chairing meetings and progressing agendas and actions, line
management experience (to manage and support the head teacher and
as coach to them in managing their team), an active interest in education
and supporting children to have a positive experience as part of the
school community and business skills and experience desirable to bring
complimentary commercial skills to existing governors.
Want to find out more? Please contact Tess Kirkby, our Clerk to
Governing Board, at tessa.kirkby@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Flood Scheme (OFAS) latest
The OFAS is a large project proposed by the Environment Agency to
reduce flood risk in Oxford. It would be a series of flood defences,
culverts, new bridges etc, plus a controversial 5km long channel from
north of Botley Road to south of the Old Abingdon Road. Everyone
agrees that flood alleviation is a good thing, but there is strong
disagreement on the channel component of the scheme, which would
involve digging up large areas of meadow between North and South
Hinksey over three years, and moving the spoil away, mostly from South
Hinksey onto the A34. https://consult.environment-
agency.gov.uk/thames/oxfordscheme/ gives more information.
The Environment Agency (EA) argues that the channel is necessary for
water to flow in the right direction in a controlled manner. Opponents
argue that the channel hydrology is unproven, and that the channel would
protect few additional homes at a very large environmental and social
cost.
The OFAS requires a lot of land that landowners don’t want to sell to the
EA, so the EA is having to serve Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) on
those plots of land. A three-week CPO inquiry will take place in
November, with a pre-inquiry meeting in late September. The EA’s CPO
documents are available at https://consult.environment-
agency.gov.uk/thames/ofas-updates/. Separately, probably after the
CPO inquiry, Oxfordshire County Council will decide whether to approve
the planning application for the OFAS.
Full disclosure: I am anti-channel, though definitely not against flood
protection. My previous Sprout articles have discussed some of the
channel’s main impacts: digging up much of the irreplaceable Hinksey
Meadow, potentially drying out the rest of the meadow, stopping
recreational access to many local fields etc. Here are two other points
which have only come out recently.
First, most of the soil excavated to make the channel is expected to be
moved onto the A34 at South Hinksey. The next time you travel past
South Hinksey, have a look at the slip-roads that those heavy lorries
carrying a full load of soil are supposed to use: they are so short that the
lorries will be going less than 10 miles per hour (mph) by the time they
have to move into the A34. The slip roads are way, way shorter than any
new road junction would be allowed to be, as you can see from the photo.
The Environment
Agency wants to
bring the speed
limit at South
Hinksey down
from 70mph to
40mph for the
duration, but that
would still mean
that people driving
at 40mph would
come up behind a
lorry going at the
speed of a slow
cyclist… just when
everyone is
weaving around to get onto (or avoid) the Hinksey Hill interchange. And
that will be the case for 25,000 lorries coming out of the site over 2–3
years. You are three times as likely to die if you hit a lorry than if you hit
another car.
Second, the Environment Agency must replace any ‘open space’ land
that they take with land in exchange that is at least as big and ‘equally
advantageous’ to the public, so that we don’t face a net loss of open
space. The OFAS would take up most of the Seacourt Nature Park. The
Environment Agency is proposing to provide the field behind Jewson’s
(“Jewson’s Field”) as exchange land: in the past I have argued that
Jewson’s Field is already used by the public so would not be a fair
exchange. But, get this, Jewson’s Field is not big enough, so the
Environment Agency is also proposing to buy 740m
2
of Hinksey Meadow
and make that ‘publicly available’. To me that sounds like the EA is taking
a slice of our pie (Seacourt Nature Park), and then saying that another
slice of pie that we are already holding (Jewson’s Field, Hinksey Meadow)
will make up for them taking the first slice. We’ll be challenging that at
the CPO inquiry.
Rant over. The CPO inquiry is limited to people who have already sent
in objections, but there is still time to send your views about OFAS –
including positive ones - to matthew.case@oxfordshire.gov.uk, who is
compiling the public’s comments in advance of the decision on the
planning application.
Riki Therivel
Brownies Forge Ahead
By the time you are reading this article 2nd Botley Brownies will have just
started our new term. We will continue with the official programme of
Girlguiding UK to offer the Brownies a programme designed so there’s
something for every girl. The structure of the programme means each
Brownie can grow along with the themes from being (maybe but not
always necessarily so) a Rainbow right up to becoming a Ranger.
Themes – The programme has six consistent themes that run all the way
from the youngest Rainbow to oldest Ranger. These are Know Myself,
Express Myself, Be Well, Have Adventures, Take Action and Skills for my
Future.
Unit Meeting Activities (UMAs) – These are lots of fun and often
challenge the Brownies to be the best they can be. UMAs can be of
varying lengths and styles, which all add to the variety of the Guiding
experience.
Skills Builders (SBs) – Skills Builders are designed to stretch and
challenge Brownies of all abilities and enable each one to develop core
skills throughout their Guiding journey.
Interest badges (IBs) – Interest Badges are a Brownie’s opportunity to
explore their own interests, hobbies and passions outside of the Unit
Meeting, although on occasion we can also do IBs within the Meeting.
Theme Awards (TAs) – A combination of Unit Meeting Activities, Interest
Badges and Skills Builders, on the same theme, will help the Brownies
to build up to a Theme
Award that demonstrates
the time they have
dedicated to exploring that
area.
Along with all the above
we also have time to make
new friends, play many
games that include a lot of
fun and laughter, do many
craft activities, have
campfires and days out.
You can find out more at:
second botleybrownies@outlook.com The Owls
Peggy May Bates (nee Read): 1920–2023.
Peggy Bates, who spent almost the whole
of her long life in Botley and Cumnor, died
recently in Merseyside.
She was born Peggy May Read in 1920 in
the West Way cottages that are now
opposite Seacourt Tower, but which then
had a view of Seacourt Farm and across
open fields to Elms Road. After Oxford
Central Girls School she worked at Oxford
University Press before being called up as
an Auxiliary Nurse in 1940.
She married Bob Bates in 1945 and moved
along Eynsham Road to Third Acre Rise.
When widowed she downsized to a smaller
house in Owlington Close, next to the same small stream that ran past
the end of the West Way cottage garden.
She lived there by herself until her 100th year, when she needed a
replacement hip after a fall. This led to a move to a care home nearer to
Liverpool relatives (just days before all care homes became “no visitor
zones” for a time in 2020). Still mobile on her walking frame and
conversing daily with family on video until this spring, she died in June
aged nearly 103 ½ after a short illness.
She was involved in many local groups: President of Dean Court WI,
enthusiastic member of flower arranging and painting groups, stalwart of
the Local History section of the U3A, and still an active gardener in her
90s. She particularly enjoyed being the “oldest (probably) inhabitant” and
recalling distant events such as the concert parties at Wytham Abbey
(where the butler “did a turn” as siffleur) and the arrival in Botley of the
new-fangled concept of main drainage.
A private cremation was held in Liverpool. A short celebration of her life
is planned for later in the Autumn in Botley. For more details of that,
contact me at peter@peterbates.co.uk
Peter Bates
[Sprout readers will be familiar with the name of Peggy Bates, as her early
life was the subject of two articles. She was an invaluable point of
information when we were trying to identify old photographs, as well as
having those of her own to contribute to local history exhibitions. Ed]
Botley Arts: Kyle Hill
Botley Arts is delighted to welcome Kyle Hill back with a fabulous
assortment of pictures which focus on Light and Colour. The exhibition,
in St Peter and St Paul Church, opens on Monday 4th September and
closes at the end of November 2023.
Here’s how Kyle describes his work:
“The medium I use is always acrylic on canvas. When painting, I try to
approach a subject not only as something I can see but as something I
can imagine, taking what my eyes are telling me but ignoring dimensions
and proportions. Painting the elements that stand out most to me. I let the
paintbrush choose the shape and light of the object.
For this collection my focus has
been on colour. By blending and
contrasting colours, I have been
able to create light and shadow,
movement and depth, energy
and animation.
Turning the classic still life on its
side, the vibrant colours found in
exotic fruits can also be found in
a taco or a burrito or a
cheeseburger. I wanted to give
the junk food of my youth the
same study and attention
another artist might give to a
sunset or bouquet of flowers.
In the wildlife paintings, I've
used colour to create movement
and the illusion that the painting
is alive, to show the character
and emotion of the individual
animals, their own unique personalities can be seen coming through the
canvas.”
Kyle was born in England but spent his childhood in the 80s and early
90s in Texas. His young adult years were spent mostly moving around
the UK, and he settled in Oxford over a decade ago.
Jennie Hopkins
Summer Fun with the 4th
Forty of our Cubs went on their Summer Camp at Youlbury for a “Viking
Camp” themed adventure. They spent two nights away from home
camping out in the woods and learning about life in the time of King Alfred
and the Vikings. They honed their ancient weaponry skills in archery and
axe throwing; overcame their fear of heights in a crate stacking challenge;
made their own campfire bread; and used their artistic skills to paint their
own recycled cardboard shields. However, the highlight of the camp for
most was having the freedom to create their own Viking role-play
fantasies in the setting of the ancient woodland of Youlbury, just a few
miles from Botley.
The Scouts travelled to North Devon for a week of camping with lots of
water activities: surfing, coasteering, water slides, a water park, and a trip
to the cinema to escape the rain! The Scouts cooked many of their meals
themselves, spent a day cycling along the Tarka trail and a day hiking
across Exmoor, finding their way to the site of a medieval settlement
where everyone ate lunch and played in a stream. Even with so much
packed in there was lots of time to relax around camp.
The Explorers headed off to the Lake District at the end of August for a
week of activities including building a raft out of barrels to paddle on
Windermere, and a hike up Helvellyn along the exciting Striding Edge.
Closer to home, this summer we have helped 65 young people from the
local area paddle kayaks at Binsey, and our leaders have helped other
groups get another 80 scouts on the water at Dorchester.
Both the young people and the volunteers at 4th Oxford Scout Group
have had a very busy and rewarding few months. The photos give an
idea of some of our summer exploits.
Simon Cowell and James Wynne
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS
P23/V1340/FUL
Wallbrook Court, North Hinksey
Lane. Eaton House & Begbroke
House - Replacement windows &
external doors; new entrance
canopies, cycle store, external
louvres and EV charging points.
8 June
Target
decision date:
3 August
P23/V1033/LDE
10 Conifer Close. Erect masonry
storage building.
12 June
TDD: 7 Aug
P23/V1310/HH
3 Crozier Close. Single storey
rear extension. Removal of
existing conservatory.
22 June
TDD: 17 Aug
P23/V1270/LDP
Land along Southern By-Pass
(A34) & opposite 172
Westminster Way. Air quality
monitoring station on a grassed
area parallel to public footpath.
26 June
TDD: 21 Aug
P23/V1666/HH
164 Westminster Way. Replace
garage & construct side link to
main house & rear extension.
19 July
TDD: 13
September
P23/V1718/PDH
8 Sycamore Rd. Replace
extension roof with flat roof. Infill
extension. Remove front stone
cladding & render finish. Replace
windows & front porch.
20 July
TDD: 31 Aug
P23/V1665/HH
19 Cumnor Rise Rd. Side and
rear extensions.
24 July
TDD: 18 Sept
P23/V1688/FUL
1 Cumnor Hill. Residential
development to create 2 x 2 bed
dwellings & parking.
26 July
TDD: 20 Sept
We, at Kennington Memory Club, are very pleased that we can now offer
twelve places at our Day Centre sessions on Mondays and Thursdays
instead of the previous ten. The Club is thriving and these places are
filling up, but we are always open to enquiries from prospective members
or their carers. If necessary, a waiting list is operated, but the delay in
joining is never long as the membership is constantly fluid. See below for
how to contact the Club Organiser for more information. Although the
Club has Kennington as part of its name, it is open to residents from a far
wider area. They come from Abingdon and all the villages around,
including Botley, Cumnor, Wootton, Radley, Drayton, Steventon and
Sutton Courtenay.
A day at the Kennington Memory Club Day Centre provides fun, activities,
laughter and quizzes for
those with memory
problems who suffer
from dementia, and also
respite for their carers.
Our members especially
appreciate the visits from
a pianist, who,
accompanied sometimes
by her children, plays
some of the old songs, to
which they can sing
along. This is very
important for those with
dementia as they can often recall music from earlier in their lives, when
other memories are lost.
To contact the club Organiser, Helen, please ring on 07852 883496 or
email memoryclub1@outlook.com for more information. Alternatively,
you can visit the Club website : kenningtonmemoryclub.org.uk.
Isobel Birse
Randoms
Hill End
Quite a lot going on this month at Hill End. Details are in the Diary on the
back cover. Book on: hill-end.org/activities/upcoming-events or
phone 01865 865310 for more information.
Wytham Stores
Wytham Stores is open again, now the summer break is over, and would
welcome visitors. As well as the shop you can have tea in the garden and
it acts as a local history centre, selling collectables. Well worth a visit.
Jean Rivers
Rare chance to own
a classic car
Morris Minor 1000, 1970. 4-
door Trafalgar Blue. 1098cc.
Towbar 99,606 miles. FSH
from 2011. MOT to March
2024. Guaranteed insurance
value £5000. Vgc. Can be
viewed in North Hinksey
village.
Phone 07808 297043
Cumnor Choral Society
Our Autumn Term begins on Thursday September 14th at St. Andrew’s
Church, Orchard Road, Botley. Rehearsals are from 7.30–9.30 with a
fifteen-minute break for tea. Our Christmas Concert is on Saturday
December 2nd in St Peter and St Paul Church, Botley from 7.30. Ticket
price includes after-concert buffet. We will be performing music to
celebrate Advent with our new Musical Director, Ben Goodall.
If you are interested in joining our very friendly choir (no voice test
needed), please email me at cockman.caroline@gmail.com (Publicity
Manager) or our Chairman Steve Morris at seamouse1827@gmail.com.
Alternatively, you can call us on 07961900670 or 07789183804.
Caroline Cockman
Botley WI Report
We much enjoyed our annual afternoon tea meeting. It was very well
attended and the delicacies were appreciated by all. In September we will
welome an antiques expert to help us decide ‘Good, Better, or Best’ from
a selection of antiques like those you see on the Antiques Roadshow. It
should be a very interesting evening (Tuesday 5th September at 7.30pm).
On September 9th there will be a ‘Bingo, Bramleys and Brambles’
evening, starting at 7pm. Please come and enjoy the evening with us. To
book phone 01865 722998. And here is early notice of our Christmas
Bazaar, which will be on Saturday 25th November. More details will
follow, but if you think you would like to book a stall, please contact us on
the number above.
Bess Harris
Volunteers needed at Sobell and Katharine House Hospices.
We are currently reaching out to as many people as we can to support
the recruitment of new volunteers for Sobell House and Katharine House
Hospices. Within Sobell House we are looking for volunteers on our In-
Patient Unit and for Volunteer Drivers to help us transport our patients
and equipment. We also need Bereavement Volunteers and Volunteer
Companions.
Can you do this? Tell: PallcareVolunteerServices@ouh.nhs.uk
Botley Library
Lots going on at Botley Library, too. Here is the September schedule.
Regular weekly events:
Lego Club Tues 15.30
Craft Club Thurs 14.00
Rhymetime Fri 10.00
We shall also be holding six free weekly Music Workshops for Parents
and Guardians with children aged 0–5 years old. They will be on
Tuesdays between 11 and 12pm, starting on 5th September, and
continuing till 10th October.
Visit the Library to find out more, or ring 07922 849680.
Liz Ward
Padel comes to Botley
For those that don’t know padel, it’s a cross between tennis and squash
that’s really easy to learn (but hard to master!). Check out
https://www.mvppadel.com/learn for more info.
MVP Padel is a pay-and-play venue now open to all at Oxford Lawn
Tennis Club, at the rugby grounds at the end of North Hinksey Lane.
The junior coaching sessions are held on Thursdays from 4-5pm (8-11
y.o.) and 5-6pm (12-14 y.o.) and are led by our friendly Portuguese
coach, Manuel. Find more info on oxford@mvppadel.com or phone
07929 415784.
Vanessa Benedict
Organizations: If your organization is not listed here, please send details
to editor@thesprout.org.uk or telephone 724452 for inclusion.
Dean Court Community Centre Thur 6–7.30 Jean
Metson, firstbotleybrownies@gmail.com
Rosary Room, Yarnells Hill. Tues 6:15-7:45 Alison
Griffin 2ndbotleybrownies@outlook.com
mail@thefourth.org.uk Meets every weekday
evening. Website: http://www.thefourth.org.uk/
Fridays, Cubs 6.30-8, Scouts 8-9.30, Pavilion, Fogwell Rd.
Amy Cusden (Cubs) 07887 654386, Tom Freeman (Scouts)
07837 623768 xvoxfordscouts@yahoo.co.uk
Tues/Thurs 9.15–11, SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
Wants to connect Botley to Eynsham. Meets every 6-8
weeks. Contact via website B4044path.org
Free Library Service for housebound Ox. 810159
Terri Matthews: clubsecretarybbgfc@gmail.com
Mondays, 9-11, Stay & Play Botley School, and Fridays
10-12,Baby Group at Seacourt Hall botleybridges.org
Thursdays, 3.30 to 5.30 at St P&P Church Hall, West
Way, Facebook or email botleylarder@gmail.com
Second Tuesday in the month, early evening.
Contact csugden@ocrpl.org
2nd & 4th Sats 9.50 Louie Memorial Field car park, or
Tues 11 am Library botleyhealthroutes@gmail.com
07922 849680. Open till 7 on Friday and 1pm on Sat,
otherwise 9.30 to 5.30 (closed Wednesdays).
Thursdays 10-12 Seacourt Hall Lounge, Diccon James
07740 611971
Alternate Thursdays. Seacourt Hall. Jackie Warner
Ox.721386
Weds 7pm-9pm in term time. Louie Memorial Pavilion.
botleyyouthclub@gmail.com
Thursdays, 19.30-21.30 St Andrew’s Ch. Steve Morris,
chair. www.cumnorchoralsociety.wordpress.com
Thurs 7–9pm Cumnor Old School. Steven Bennett
01993 684494 www.cumnorchessclub.co.uk
Last Monday of the month 7.30-9.00 Cumnor Old
School. 01865 724808
http://cumnorgardens.org.uk/ tel 01865 721026
Wed 7.30 at Appleton Village Hall. C. Casson 01235
831352 or harmonyinspires@hotmail.co.uk
Contact: David Millin on david.millin@hill-end.org,
call 863510 or visit www.hillend-oec.co.uk
Family club Email: Tennis@OxfordSportsLTC.org
07824 881680 www.oxfordsportsltc.org
Barbara Brett 249599 or bag@cryhavoc.org.uk
North Hinksey Preschool
and Childcare clubs
Mon–Fri 7.45am–6.00 pm. Tel 794287 or email
nhps.manager1@gmail.com
N Hinksey Art Group
Weds 10–12.00 W.I. Hall Christina 07931 707997
N Hinksey Bellringers
Contact: Ray Rook 01865 241451
N Hinksey Conservation
Volunteers
Meets at weekends Contact Voirrey Carr 07798
743121 voirreyc@aol.com
N Hinksey, Friends of
Annual Cricket Match/ Walk. Douglas Bond 791213.
N Hinksey Parish Council
clerk@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk
Oxford Flower Arranging
4th Thursday Cumnor. Dympna Walker: Ox 865259
Oxford Harmony
Wednesdays 7.30 – 9.30 pm at Seacourt Hall
Contact pro@oxfordharmony.co.uk
Oxford Otters
Swimming for people with disabilities. Sundays,
twice monthly. Contact: Alan Cusden 723420
Oxford Rugby Club
Boys and girls from 5, kevin.honner@ntlworld.com
Seniors, training etc jbrodley@chandlings.org.uk.
Raleigh Park, Friends of
Email: raleighpark@raleighpark.org.uk
Seacourt Hall Management
Committee
Contact Lottie White, 07452 960100, or see
https://www.seacourthall.org.uk
Shotokan Karate Club
6+ WOCC twice weekly Martyn King 07836 646450
Stagecoach Botley
Botley School, Saturdays 9:00am–3pm Performing
Arts for 4-16 yr-olds 01865 590510 or 01235 390810
West Oxford Bowls Club
Dave Ellerker 07931 603801
wobc.membership@gmail.com
West Oxford Taekwon Do
Club
Mon, Thurs 6.30-8pm, MA gym, contact Chris Hall
01865 570291 www.wotkd.co.uk
West Oxford U3A
(Uni of the 3rd Age)
http://westoxfordu3a.org.uk/
Women’s Institute (Botley)
Alison Jenner 07598 251161
alisonjenner@yahoo.com
Weight Watchers
Thursdays 6pm at SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
Banso tel: 07779 253899 bansob@aol.com
Botley Baptist Church,
I Church Way
Contact: Building Manager 07742
662668 botleybaptist@gmail.com
The Rosary Room
Yarnells Hill, Elms Rise
Contact: Maria Brown,
Tel : 018 6 5 24 7 98 6.
SS Peter & Paul Church
Hall, West Way, Botley
Contact: 01865 242057 or
osneybenefice@outlook.com.
Women's Institute Hall,
North Hinksey Lane
Contact: Val Warner
Tel . 018 6 5 24 5 27 3
Seacourt Hall,
3 Church Way
Contact: Lottie White on 07452 960100,
or email admin@seacourthall.org.uk
Pavilion, Arnold’s Way,
Elms Rise, Botley
Contact: Darren Blase 241254
louiememorialpavilion@gmail.com
Oxford Rugby Club,
North Hinksey Village
Contact: Mary Bagnall
mary.bagnall1@btinternet.com.
North Hinksey & Botley Churches
Times of Services (once resumed) and Contacts
St. Law rence, Church of England, North Hinkse y La n e
1st, 2nd, 4
th
, 5
th
Sunday 11 .30a m Holy Communion
3r d Sunda y 11. 30am M at ins
St. Peter and St. Paul, Church of England, Wes t Wa y
Sundays 9.30am Holy Communion
Wednesdays 10.30am Holy Communion at Field House, West Way
1st Saturday each month, 4–5.30pm Messy Church for children and carers
Rev Clare Sykes, Tel. 01865 242345 or r evc lar e@ b t in t er net . co m
See table above for Church Hall enquiries.
Our Lady of the Rosary, Roman Catholic, Yar n el ls H i ll
Sat u rday 6. 3 0p m Ma s s
Sunday 9. 15am M as s
Fr Da nie l Lloy d 075 8 4 3239 1 5 dlloyd@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk.
Botley Baptist Church, 1 Church Way
Sunday Ser vic e 11 am
Wed n es da y Zoom Bib le S t udy 7. 3 0pm
Ch oir p r act ic e T h ur sday 2pm
Diane Me lc he rt 07742 662668 www.botleybaptistchurch.org
Calvary Chapel
Sunday ser vices on 1s t Fl o or, 1 Chur ch Way at 9. 3 0a m with
crèche, children’s Sunday school and youth group
Past or St eve Vicke r y 0 18 65 586332
contact@ccox.church website: www.ccoxford.church
What’s On
September
Mon 4th St Peter and St Paul Church, Botley Arts: Kyle Hill
Tues 5th 11–12am, Botley Library, first of six weekly music
workshops for under-fives and carers.
Fri 8th 7–8.30, Hill End, Bat Watch
9th/10th Across West Oxford, Visit Energy Saving Homes
Mon 11th 2.30pm, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A talk:
Phil Holt, An Air Traffic Controller’s Day
Thur 14th 7.30pm, Seacourt Hall, Parish Council Meeting
Sat 23rd 1.30–4.30, Hill End, Family Bushcraft
Sun 24th 12–4.30, Hill End, Adult Bushcraft
3.30pm, Louie Memorial Pavilion LMPT’s AGM
Mon 25th 2.30pm, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A talk:
Katherine Bradley, women in the Arts & Crafts
Movement in the Cotswolds
October
Sun 1st New arrangements begin at Botley Medical Centre
Sat 7th 10am to 2pm, Hill End, Family Day – Foraging!
Sun 8th 3–5pm, South View, Old Botley, Botley Apple Day